Latest releases
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2,987 releases
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Sinn Féin health proposals are positive contribution – McGuigan
Philip McGuigan MLA welcomes Sinn Féin’s new health discussion paper, urging an all‑island Irish National Health and Care Service and proposing a Shared Island Unit, integrated waiting list, unified emergency services and a Rural Health Commission.
Health Constitutional affairs Issue: Sinn Féin discussion document on an Irish National Health and Care Service Original release: Sinn Féin health proposals are positive contribution – McGuigan (opens in a new tab)
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Women are being failed - data on sex is not being collected making ending violence against women and girls nothing more than a slogan – Beattie
UUP justice spokesperson Doug Beattie MC MLA says the failure to collect data on biological sex undermines efforts to end violence against women and girls. He says the PSNI and other departments are not recording victims' or perpetrators' sex for sexual offences, and calls for correct collection…
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Independent Review of Data, Statistics and Research on Sex and Gender Original release: Women are being failed - data on sex is not being collected making ending violence against women and girls nothing more than a slogan – Beattie (opens in a new tab)
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Education Minister should ensure all schools play their part in providing SEN placements – Baker
Sinn Féin MLA Danny Baker calls on the Education Minister to ensure all schools, including grammar schools, provide special educational needs placements. He says non-selective schools have carried most of the load and calls for a new approach, and has called for a committee inquiry into the issue.
Education Disability and equality Original release: Education Minister should ensure all schools play their part in providing SEN placements – Baker (opens in a new tab)
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Crisis response from the Education Minister needed on SEN school placements, say Guy and Mathison
Alliance MLAs Michelle Guy and Nick Mathison say the Education Minister must explore all options to resolve the special educational needs placement crisis, after the Education Authority reported over 160 children still lack confirmed school places for next year.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Education Authority reports 160+ SEN children awaiting school places Original release: Crisis response from the Education Minister needed on SEN school placements, say Guy and Mathison (opens in a new tab)
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‘Urgent, universal collective action’ needed to end Israeli impunity in Gaza – Kearney
Sinn Féin MLA Declan Kearney calls for "urgent, universal collective action" to end Israeli impunity in Gaza after the Assembly backed a motion condemning it, citing deaths, child malnutrition and destroyed health and water systems.
International affairs Health Issue: Assembly motion condemning Israeli impunity in Gaza Original release: ‘Urgent, universal collective action’ needed to end Israeli impunity in Gaza – Kearney (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Féin introduce bill to end RTÉ’s second-class treatment of audiences in north – Hughes
Sinn Féin MP Dáire Hughes welcomes a new Sinn Féin bill, introduced by TDs Aengus Ó Snodaigh and Joanna Byrne, to end RTÉ geo-blocking and the exclusion of northern audiences from its competitions. He says the bill would require broadcasters to make reasonable efforts and would ask Coimisiún na…
Disability and equality Issue: Broadcasting (All Ireland Service) Bill first-stage Dáil introduction Original release: Sinn Féin introduce bill to end RTÉ’s second-class treatment of audiences in north – Hughes (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Féin to introduce bill to end second-class treatment of audiences in North by RTÉ – Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD & Joanna Byrne TD
Sinn Féin TDs Aengus Ó Snodaigh and Joanna Byrne say they have been given leave to introduce a first-stage Dáil bill requiring RTÉ to end the exclusion of Six County audiences from its services, including geo-blocking and audience competitions.
Disability and equality Issue: Broadcasting (All Ireland Service) Bill first-stage Dáil introduction Original release: Sinn Féin to introduce bill to end second-class treatment of audiences in North by RTÉ – Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD & Joanna Byrne TD (opens in a new tab)
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SDLP stands against Welfare Bill
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP backs two reasoned amendments, signed with Colum Eastwood, to block the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill at its Commons Second Reading. She warns the welfare reforms will push hundreds of thousands into poverty, hitting Northern Ireland hardest…
Social security and welfare Disability and equality Issue: Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill Commons Second Reading Original release: SDLP stands against Welfare Bill (opens in a new tab)
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Education system continues to fail vulnerable young SEN people and their families, say Mathison and Guy
Alliance MLAs Nick Mathison and Michelle Guy say the education system is failing vulnerable SEN children, pointing to poor communication, delayed statements and over 150 pupils still without school places, and call for a radical overhaul and cross‑departmental legislation to secure post‑19 pathways.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Equity in Education event reveals SEN support failures Original release: Education system continues to fail vulnerable young SEN people and their families, say Mathison and Guy (opens in a new tab)
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Justin McNulty MLA offers condolences following tragic Meigh house fire
SDLP Newry & Armagh MLA Justin McNulty expresses sympathy to the family and wider community after a fatal house fire that killed a woman and injured a young man. He wishes the injured man a swift recovery and pays tribute to the emergency responders.
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SDLP condemns ‘appalling and disturbing’ attack on Belfast Islamic Centre
SDLP MPs and MLAs Claire Hanna and Matthew O'Toole condemn an attack on the Belfast Islamic Centre, where a device was thrown through a window during prayers. They call for consistent political leadership against hate and for the Executive to deliver its anti-racism and integration strategies.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Attack on Belfast Islamic Centre while people inside Original release: SDLP condemns ‘appalling and disturbing’ attack on Belfast Islamic Centre (opens in a new tab)
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McLaughlin welcomes new legislation on spiking but urges further action to protect women
SDLP Foyle MLA Sinéad McLaughlin welcomes the Justice Minister's move to bring forward a Legislative Consent Motion making drink spiking an offence in its own right, and calls for licensed venues to be required to supply testing kits.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Assembly approval of anti-spiking legislative consent motion Original release: McLaughlin welcomes new legislation on spiking but urges further action to protect women (opens in a new tab)
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Clarke praises emergency services in aftermath of Carrickfergus incident
TUV councillor David Clarke thanks the RNLI, paramedics, air ambulance staff and police for their response after nine children and one adult were endangered when a boat capsized near Carrickfergus Marina. He also wishes a hospitalised child and family well and urges water safety ahead of summer.
Other Issue: Carrickfergus Marina boat capsize incident involving nine children Original release: Clarke praises emergency services in aftermath of Carrickfergus incident (opens in a new tab)
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A Dark Week for Our Nation: Parliament Embraces Death at the Beginning and End of Life
TUV leader Jim Allister, MP for North Antrim, laments a "sad" week in which Westminster voted to decriminalise abortion at all stages and passed the Assisted Suicide Bill. He calls these decisions alarming and says he opposed both.
Health Issue: Westminster votes on abortion decriminalisation and Assisted Suicide Bill passage Original release: A Dark Week for Our Nation: Parliament Embraces Death at the Beginning and End of Life (opens in a new tab)
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BROLLY CRITICISES EASTWOOD ON ASSISTED SUICIDE VOTE
Aontú Deputy Leader Gemma Brolly criticises SDLP MP Colum Eastwood for backing the assisted suicide bill at Westminster, questioning his stance on the issue. She calls instead for investment in palliative care and the health service for terminally ill people.
Health Issue: Westminster votes on abortion decriminalisation and Assisted Suicide Bill passage Original release: BROLLY CRITICISES EASTWOOD ON ASSISTED SUICIDE VOTE (opens in a new tab)
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BROLLY SLAMS ABORTION UP TO BIRTH VOTE IN WESTMINSTER
Aontú Deputy Leader Gemma Brolly condemns a Westminster amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill that she says would decriminalise abortion in England and Wales up to birth for any reason. She claims it removes legal safeguards, allows gender and disability selection, and criticises SDLP and…
Health Issue: Commons amendments to Crime and Policing Bill on abortion decriminalisation Original release: BROLLY SLAMS ABORTION UP TO BIRTH VOTE IN WESTMINSTER (opens in a new tab)
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TUV: Civil Service Must Address Concerns of Staff Opposed to Pride Participation
TUV Equality spokesperson Ann McClure says Timothy Gaston's questions to Finance Minister John O'Dowd on Civil Service participation in Belfast Pride received vague answers, and calls on the Civil Service and Minister to directly address concerns about impartiality and objecting staff.
Disability and equality Issue: NICS participation in Belfast Pride 2025 and Stonewall links Original release: TUV: Civil Service Must Address Concerns of Staff Opposed to Pride Participation (opens in a new tab)
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Dolan welcomes launch of public consultation Baby Loss Certificate Scheme
Sinn Féin MLA Jemma Dolan welcomes the launch of a public consultation on a proposed Baby Loss Certificate Scheme for parents who suffer pregnancy loss before 24 weeks. She urges parents and the public to share their views and says she looks forward to the scheme being introduced later this year.
Health Issue: Baby Loss Certificate Scheme public consultation launch Original release: Dolan welcomes launch of public consultation Baby Loss Certificate Scheme (opens in a new tab)
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Ratcliffe Slams Appalling Abortion Decision
TUV chairman Councillor Keith Ratcliffe condemns the Commons vote to decriminalise women who end their own pregnancies at any stage, calling the decision morally repugnant and claiming it was rushed through without serious debate.
Health Issue: Westminster vote on abortion amendment in Bill, June 2025 Original release: Ratcliffe Slams Appalling Abortion Decision (opens in a new tab)
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All-island approach needed to tackle air pollution – Finnegan
Sinn Féin MLA Aoife Finnegan calls for an all-island approach to tackle air pollution on Clean Air Day, arguing it harms health, worsens health inequalities and contributes to hundreds of deaths each year. She pledges support for the Executive and the Minister for Agriculture, Environment and…
Environment and climate Health Original release: All-island approach needed to tackle air pollution – Finnegan (opens in a new tab)